CommBank Pararoos head coach Kai Lammert has called up 19 players to March’s training camp at Valentine Sports Park in Sydney which includes the ACT’s own Luc Launder, the 17-year-old forward having already made his Pararoos debut.
With an eye towards the recently announced 2023 Para Asian Cup to be held in Melbourne from 31 October – 12
November, the roster sees a combination of players from the February international series and a number of new
faces.
“First of all, obviously everyone’s very excited to be in camp following the exciting announcement of our first
tournament on home soil since the Sydney 2000 Olympics,” Lammert said.
“This camp presents a chance to continue building on the success we had from our trial games and our friendly
internationals against the USA earlier in the year. The primary focus is to prepare as best as possible for the Asian
Cup in October.”
Rejuvenated captain David Barber headlines the squad once again with fellow veteran defender Ben Atkins
making a return. The duo bookends a host of fresh-faced talent with West Australian Giacomo Izzo joining the
CommBank Pararoos teen brigade that sees ten players aged 20 or under in the roster.
After impressive showings in 2022 National Para Football Championships, South Australian Taylor Harvey and
Queensland captain Jarrod Law will also be provided an opportunity to showcase their skills in the national team
environment.
“We have brought in a few different players for this camp as we haven’t seen them early in the year. It’s exciting to
extend the squad a little more and keep the competition very high for the spots for the 14 squad positions come
October,” Lammert explained.
“The sheer amount of talent that is coming through really bodes well for the future of the program. To have more
than half this training squad aged 20 years or under speaks to the significant work undertaken by so many in
developing the next generation, but also to the impact of our veteran players who kept the Pararoos flame
burning.
“As witnessed when we took on the world number four head on, the Para Asian Cup presents a wonderful
occasion to show Australians just what this team is about and what these players are capable of, and I know that
will drive us as we prepare for the tournament.”
Staff and players will assemble for the training camp this coming Friday with the team also attending the Subway
Socceroos v Ecuador match at CommBank Stadium on 24 March. The following day Australia’s two men’s senior
national teams will come together at the Subway Socceroos recovery session.
“So many of our players are looking forward to watching the Socceroos out there in the grandstands and on the
training pitch,” Lammert said.
“A big thank you to Graham Arnold, James Duvcevski and the Socceroos for inviting us in and that’s obviously very
much appreciated by all of us by staff and players. It really gives the boys a sense of what it means to be a part of
the tradition of this national teams’ football family,” he concluded.
